Route or destination indicator for tram-cars or the like.



A. K. BAYLOR. ROUTE 0B. DESTINATION INDICATOR FOR TRAM GARS 0R THB LIKE.

APPLICATION PILE!)Y rma. 2o. 1905.

916,256. manueel Mar. 23, 1909.

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ARMISTEAD KEITH BAYLOR, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ROUTE OR DESTINATION INDICATOR FOR TEAM-CARS OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 23, 1909.

Application filed February 2G, 1905. Serial )510.246,475.

T o all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Annis'rnan KEITH BAYLOR, a citizen oi' the United States, residing in London, England, have invented certain new and use'l'ul Improvements in Route or Destination,Indicators Vlor TranuCars or the Like, oi' which the following is a spcciiica tion.

My present invention relates to changeable signs or indicators such as are used on tramcars, railway trains or the like for announcing to prospective passengers and other persons, the destination and the route oi' the vehicle.

The invention relates particularly to that type of indicator which has as the indicating meansa traveling band or screen operated by a pair of rollers.

The object of this invention is to provide a construction which will 'facilitate the removal and replacement of the curtain and rollers.

I consider that the essential Vfeature of my invention is the construction ol' the indicator casing in two sections, one oi' which sections, the main and stationary part, securely fastened to the car, contains the lights 'for illuminating the screen. The other section is a removable one detachably secured to the main section and contains the roller curtain and rollers for operating the curtain. '.lhe rollers are provided with adjustable l'riction bearings, the construction ot' which also i forms part or' the subject-matter oft' my inventio'n, as do also details oi' construction contrived in com leting my invention, all of which devices wil be described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view oi an indicator constructed in accordance with my invention, the detachable front being shown taken out and dropped down. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the indicator front with a portion of the stationary part in section. Fig. 3 is' a fragmentary sectional view showing one end of an indicator which is intended for use on single deck cars or when the indicator is to bc operated from below and Fig. 4 shows a nondetachable handle for operating thc curtain rollers.

In the drawings 1 represents the rectangular shaped casing with an open front which I shall term the stationary section. This section is securely attached in a conspicuous place 0n the vehicle or where desired, usually on ktramcars one at each end on top.

2 are lamps for illuminating the screen at night. These lamps (shown in dotted lines) are placed inside the above. mentioned scction and located so that the best light etl'ect can be obtained, either with or without the aid ol' reilectors or di'l'users. The stz'rtionary section may also carry at one end the nondetachable handles 3, or instead, sockets into which may be inserted detachable handles, t'or thc purpose of rotating the rollers and 5 which carry and operate the roller curtain 6. The removable front section. 7' consists ol a frame having a glazed opening (not shown) and is adapted to be secured to the stationary section 1 in front of the opening therein, by means of any suitable contrivances, for instance as shown by turn buttons S and catches S.

The method I have adopted for mounting the curtain rollers in the frame 7 consists of iron cross-pieces 9 secured at each end ol the traine. Semi-circular recesses 10 are out at cach end of the cross-pieces 9 and into these recesses are set journals 11 provided on the ends of the rollers. Levers 12 are hingedto the cross-pieces and bent or cast with semicircular part 13. This bent portion and the :Bomben-cular recess 10, when togethcniorln the bearing for the roller journals. In the center ol the cross-piece 9 I iix a stud 14 on which is a ilanged piecc 15 pressed downwardly by spring 16 surrounding the stud and kept in place by the nut and washer 17 on the end ol the stud. I/Vhen the roller journals are in place in the recesses in the cross-pieces, the levers 12 are pressed downward. The ends of the levers nearly meet when down so the flanged piece 15 can be sprung over both lever ends. The flanged piece, when serving its purpose, is seated in grooves 17 in the ends of the levers to prevent easy displacement.

It is essential that the bearings of the curtain rollers should oil'er considerable resistance, because without this resistance the curtain could not be drawn taut unless a special means for retardation is provided. The friction in my improved bearing can be regulated by adjustment of the nut 17 which causes the tension of the spring to be altered.

It is ,desirable to have the inside of the indicator casing weather-tight, and partially for this purpose the top of the stationary section has depending therefrom a strip 18. The upper edge of the frame 7 iitsunder the strip 18, thus serving as a means lor holding the top of the frame in place and also preventing the rain or snow getting inside the casing.

ln Fig. 3 I have shown art ot' an indicator which is designed for single deck cars or where the indicator is to be. operated from below. This construction differs from that previously described only that instead of the operating handles at the side of the casing an operating rod 2O extends downwardly from the bottom of the stationary section l.

On the top end of the rod l secure a bevel gear 21 which is arranged to niesh with gear 22 afhxed on the end of the lower curtain roller 5, when the removable front which carries the rollers is placed in position at the front of the stationary section. The lower roller only is rotated by this rod 20, but the up er roller being an ordinary spring curtain rol er, the curtain is wound thereon when the lower roller is rotated to unwind the curtain therefrom, the resistance of the friction bearings acting against the pull of the roller spring. YVVhen the section carrying the rollers is in position, the square holes in the ends ot the rollers are in alinenient with the openings in the sockets 4. T he shank ot the operating crank is inserted in the socket and the square end 23 (Fig. 4) enters the hole 24 in the end ot the roller. The curtain rollers 1 can then be rotated and any particular name on the curtain brought before the glazed opening of the frame '7 The operating crank above described must be taken out when the front is to be removed, but the crank illustrated in Fig. 4

and the crank is held therein against corn-v plete reinoval by the stop screw 25 which strikes against the shoulder 26. The crank is shown as being pushed into its socket in its operative position. When the crank is to be disconnected it is pulled out until the stop 25 strikes the shoulder 26. To insure a perfeet union connection is made under a spring action which is givenV by the ball 27 and spring 28 in the recess 29. The ball is forced into the recess and the spring com ressed, when the crank is pulled out an if the crank is pushed in far enough, the ball esca es troni the recess, when it reaches the shou der 26. This spring action causes the squared end otl the crank to enter the opening in the roller end when their relative position corresponds.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is r- A route or destination indicator having a pair of rollers, an indicating band which is caused to travel thereby, adjustable bearings fcr said rollers, said bearings being adapted to be opened and each consisting of a iixed half bearing which receives a roller journal, a hinged clamp or lever carrying the other half bearing arranged to be compressed by an adjustable device which acts as a cornrnon compressor for both bearings at one end of the indicator, substantially as described.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set Iny hand this 11th day of February 1905.

ARMISTEAD KEITH BAYLOR. Wlitnesses:

ARNOLD J. TANNER, JOHN R. HART. 

